Curfew is relaxed in Vadodara

VADODARA: With the situation remaining peaceful in the city, curfew was relaxed for three hours on Friday for women and children in all the six police station areas, police sources said.

City Police Commissioner Deepak Swarup said the situation is under control and the army, police and para-militarily forces were keeping a constant vigil in the disturbed areas of the city. "We have arrested many people on precautionary basis," he said.

Curfew was relaxed in Navapura, Vadi and city police station areas from 0900 hrs to 1200 hrs. In the other three areas of Karelibaug, Raopura and Panigate curfew was relaxed from 1430 hrs to 1730 hrs.

A 75-year-old man was stabbed in Navapura area of the city on Thursday night. The police confirmed the incident, but said the stabbing was due to personal rivalry. He was admitted to a hospital, police added.  

The residents of the city however feel the mistrust of the minority community for the administration, which led to communal violence, will take a long time to go. This, they fear, will result in prolonged flare-ups, causing financial loss to the city. 

Devang Shah, a resident of Jagmal ni pol, whose friend Biren Shah was killed by a mob, said, "Innocent people are suffering, not the officials who are responsible for this bloodbath.

The lack of understanding and maturity on the part of the authorities is difficult to comprehend,"Ashfaqmiya Ahmed of Panigate said, "The police should act with impartiality, which they often fail to do."